Baking Bread…..

One Sunday at church, I heard a sermon about the kitchen being the center of the home…..everything really good happens there. Some people think it’s only about the food….others realize it’s the relationships that grow in the kitchen. It begins as a child….learning with your parents about preparing food, washing dishes, mixing, etc….and it continues. The mixing, the chopping….all provides time for talking…..and when you bake bread, it’s the same way. If you start from true scratch….you gather your grains, beans (if necessary), honey, water, etc….and then grind them….then, you mix/knead….and let it rise. In between….conversations begin and relationships grow….just as the bread is growing. Then, it’s time to put it in the oven and let it bake. It has to bake at the right temp….and for the right time. Mistakes can happen along the way….I know they do when I’m baking bread. I end up with batter here…and there (I usually find it splattered in my hair!) Those mistakes though, always remind me of my life….I make them daily…and most of the time every hour or minute. Anyway…after baking….the bread is ready…and it’s time for more conversation. If the bread is good….perhaps there is silence for a while…..but then, more conversation.

Isn’t life so much like this….prep work, mixing, kneading….and then baking….God brings us through these various phases in all areas of our lives and with all of our relationships.I was blessed yesterday with some wonderful friendship in the morning….and again in the afternoon. During the afternoon, I baked bread with a friend I had not seen in two years. We have both lost loved ones during that time…we homeschool, we both see the sadness in our world and we both desire to feed our children God’s word…and good food. My day was blessed due to her friendship….her children were so wonderful. It has been a long time since my daughter has had a play date that did not require a detox time. We generally have to talk for at least 30 minutes about her hurting heart after play dates….it’s such a big heart, I have to remind myself of that daily, lest I step in the wrong place….but she has known her friend since she was 1……and I am so thankful to see that they were able to pick up where they left off….and while my boys were surrounded by girls, they two enjoyed playing.

So, baking bread…..growing in Christ…..make for a loving and peaceful day. True contentment and peace was found in my home…with the Kitchen at the center. So…I’ve decided….no more buying bread….I will be grinding my wheat and baking my bread…..if you want to enjoy some good conversation and allow God to grow us together….come by!

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